Moderator Application
Personal Information
Byond ID? Scsnv
CM Character? James-Frederick Cerwick
Are you 16 or older? Yes
Timezone EST (I will be moving to LA towards the end of summer, currently EST though).
On average, how many hours are you available per week to moderate? Now that my schedule is clearing up, probably two or three rounds a day, multiple days a week. At least 15 per, probably. Potentially more in some weeks and less in others.
Qualifications
Do you have any previous experience in being staff (not just SS13)? Besides some IRL responsibilities, no.
Do you play any servers aside from CM-SS13? No.
Provide links to any previous Colonial Marines applications that you've made
Provide links to any previous Colonial Marines applications that you've made:
Are you currently a staff member elsewhere (not just SS13)? If so, where? No.
Have you ever been banned for more than 24 hours on Colonial Marines? Negative.
Have you ever been banned for more than 24 hours on ANY server? If so, which server, when, and what for? No; no bans.
Are you familiar with the chat program Discord (its use is required)? Yes
Communication is a vital part of being a Moderator. Are you willing to actively do so with the team? Definitely. It's all a team effort.
Common Staff Situations
A player randomly shoots someone at round start and MPs have detained him. I would check his notes, see if he has any previous history of griefing in the past, and check the logs to see if it was an accident or intentional griefing. If it were an accident, I'd leave it IC and leave it at that. If it was intentional, Rule 4 comes into play; a warning and note would be in order, or a ban if their note history justifies it.
I might also check to make sure that the player who was shot didn't retaliate or improperly escalate the situation (i.e. shooting them back).
A player ahelps that a predator has violated the honor code when killing him, what should you do? This is a whitelist issue, so I'd direct the player to make a player report and make their case to the Pred Council. I'd still check logs to make sure there's no actual rulebreaks that need to be addressed.
You see a player walking around the ship naked and clearly lost at roundstart. First, I'd direct a mentor to them if any is available. If not, I'd point them in the right direction to get geared up and ready to go. Ideally, I'd try to find an experienced marine and ask them to help guide the new guy throughout the round. It also wouldn't hurt to mention the Discord and the channels that have been created to try and help players in scenarios just like this.
A player is being very rude to you in adminhelps, calling you names and arguing everything you say. He is requesting to speak to an Admin+ staff member. I'm under no obligation to forward his issue to an Admin+. If he's unhappy with the way I've been handling things, I'd invite him to write up a staff report, and provide him with the link. I'd check their notes to see if they have any history of bad behavior, and issue a warning if it's egregious or a ban if the note history calls for it. My understanding is that moderators are capable of muting/barring a player from ahelps, and that would probably be my next course of action after a warning.
I'm pretty thick-skinned, but if a player were to act rude towards me, he could just as easily act in a similar manner to other staff or players. Being personally passive towards insults or poor behavior directed at me shouldn't and wouldn't stop me from ensuring that Rule 3 gets enforced.
A player ahelps that a marine is named 'John Doe', how do you deal with this? I'd refer him to Rule 12 which outlines acceptable naming conventions, and ask him to select a new name that falls under those rules. I believe that mods are able to change names, but if not I'd ask an admin to do so if one is available. I'd also check his notes and make sure he doesn't have a history of breaking Rule 12 or trouble with names in the past.
You see a Maintenance Tech running around in armor and carrying a rifle. The security level is green and there has been no threat to the ship in the round at this point. IC issue. As long as he isn't breaking any server rules (i.e. metagaming or griefing), I'd leave it be. Wouldn't hurt to check his note history for any past of griefing or similar behaviors, though.
A Marine ahelps that they were killed by a survivor. It is early round, the Marines have just landed, and the survivor claims that they were outright hostile to all Marines from the get-go and openly stated their intentions. How do you deal with this? I would inform the marine that survivors are allowed to be hostile towards marines, as long as they are hostile from the beginning and, yes, state their intentions. I would check logs just to make sure they were indeed openly hostile, but beyond that it's IC.
If the survivor were to start blasting people shipside after making peace with them, however, that would constitute a rulebreak and then action would be taken.
You receive an ahelp from a player stating that an MP has locked them up in permanent confinement for running into Requisitions and taking an attachment that was laying around. I would get the stories from both the player and the MP, and check the logs, and check their note history. If the player did indeed commit another crime worthy of permanent confinement, then it's IC. But if the MP permabrigged the player for theft and trespassing (not crimes punishable by permabrigging), I would instruct the MP to decrease the sentence - a warning and a note might be in order, or even a job-ban if there's a history of issues while playing MP.
The round is stagnating. There are 30 marines and 4 aliens. The marines won't leave the ship, and the aliens won't attack. What would you do, to "encourage" the sides to engage each other? I would SM the CO/XO/etc first, and then QM the Queen. If the CO doesn't take the hint via SM, I would probably give a more overt message/order via a HC message, assuming that's another option that's available to me.
You are playing as a medic, and another medic overdoses all your patients and prevent marines from being revived. It seems like it may be on purpose. How do you deal with this situation? It would be improper and unprofessional for me to take action if I'm involved in the issue. I would either ahelp or request that another member of staff gets involved via msay to check it out.
The round ends, a Marine starts shooting a hostile CLF member and the CLF member ahelps about being killed after the round ended. Per Rule 4, combat between factions that are hostile to each other does not constitute EORG, and therefore it's IC. I would explain this to the ahelping player. No action taken.
A Marine is running around disarming, punching and stealing gear at round start. You receive an ahelp from one of the victims. I would check logs, and if they are indeed griefing I would warn and note the player. A ban might be in order depending on note history, but it would have to be a pretty lengthy or severe note history.
You receive an ahelp from a Marine saying that he was killed by another Marine. When you ask the murderer why, he said it was because the other Marine had punched him. I would check the logs to see how the situation escalated, and if it did indeed go from a punch to shooting (or whatever other manner of death) inform the offending player that they committed Improper Escalation, a breach of Rule 14. Apply note, or ban if they have a history with IE.
You find out that there is an improper mutiny occuring. The mutineers are rallying together and preparing to storm the CIC. How would you attempt to resolve this situation? OOC or LOOC the group, informing them of the guidelines as outlined by Rule 17 (must have the assigned leader ahelp with the names of five mutineers, the reason for mutiny, etc - also inform them that they cannot deny the other side revives when the fighting has concluded, no killing of un-involved and medical personnel, the works).
I'd watch to oversee the mutiny, and if they still don't follow through with the proper procedure after being informed, warnings or bans will be handed out.
There are minor racist comments going on IC. 9 of the 10 people are laughing and RPing but one player gets offended and Adminhelps about it. LOOC the group and ask them to tone it down a bit. Minor IC racism is fine, but if it's making someone uncomfortable or unhappy, that's when it needs to relax or end altogether. Check note history of those making the comments and see if there's any history of excessive racist comments or the works, check logs and maybe warn and note if it's anything particularly egregious. I'd probably confer with other staff just to make sure that what I'm interpreting as "egregious" isn't acceptable RP.
A marine opens fire at round start in briefing killing multiple marines and instantly logs off. Classic griefing. Week ban, file for perma. Aheal those affected by the grief/LOOC or OOC ask those affected to ahelp in order to be ahealed.
You see a player playing a Xeno larva/chestburster run towards the frontlines straight from the Xeno hive the second they burst and die. Yet another example of classic griefing. I would ask what their reasoning was just to see if they had any semblance of an excuse. Xeno ban, or temp ban depending on note history.
You see a Xeno memeing, saying AYYLMAO, REEEEEE etc in hivemind chat, as well as insulting the Queen. I'd contact them and refer them to Rule 2, as well as the "Roleplay Standards" section for Xenos. Xenos are part of a hivemind, and therefore aren't allowed to insult or disobey the Queen. Apply note and check note history for any similar issues with LRP/xeno roleplay.
A Xeno player calls the shuttle a "dropship". A different Xeno player ahelps that it's low role play to call it a "dropship". Per the "Roleplay Standards" section in the Rules, this is acceptable. I would inform the ahelping Xeno player of the standards and leave it at that. No action taken.
A Command staff player at briefing near round-start mentions there are aliens on the planet. You receive an ahelp from a marine regarding this. I would inform the Command player that unless an event is taking place which specifies otherwise, marines have no knowledge of existence of Xenos. Refer him to the "Roleplay Standards" section for marines, check notes, apply note or perhaps a job-ban if the notes show a history of this.
You find a Marine killing another Marine on the EVAC Pod to take the last spot and claims it was RP as he was saving himself. There are two other marines in the pod along with him. Checking the logs and notes of each player would be the first step. Asking the other two marines in the pod for their perspective also wouldn't hurt. Assuming the situation was properly escalated, it's an IC issue and I wouldn't take any action.
If the logs do in fact show that it was Improper Escalation (lack of RP, clear malicious behavior, outright shooting without speaking, etc), then a strong warning would be in order. If the note history shows any other issues with griefing or IE, a temp ban might be in order.
A player insults you after you warn them for a minor issue and begins ranting in LOOC or dchat about staff and mentions you specifically, referring to you as an 'idiot' and a 'retard'. I'd inform them that they could write a staff report if they feel I mishandled a situation. If the insults persist, I'd warn/mute them. It might be more appropriate to let another member of staff handle their punishment, however.
A player ahelps saying he was hugged by a Xeno when he was ssd, and wants the larva be removed from him via admin powers. How do you handle the ahelp? IC issue. Nothing I can do about it.
You see a fellow staff member give wrong information in an Adminhelp or incorrectly enforce a rule. I would weigh in with my opinion or corrections in msay; if they go through with it anyways, and I believe what they did was incorrect, I would either bring it up for discussion in staff channels (Discord or forums, presumably), or speak to the Mod Manager. Whatever is best to avoid internal staff conflict. Usually I would opt to speak to the manager or perhaps ask a senior mod to weigh in, but if it's a general discussion that can be held constructively, I don't see an issue with bringing it up in staff channels (per Staff Code of Conduct, this appears to be acceptable).
Two staff are arguing in msay if an ahelp is breaking a rule. Because the staff who took the ahelp thinks the player broke a rule, they ban the player based on their interpretation of the rules, with others thinking the person was fine. What would you do? I wouldn't intervene unless I absolutely have to. I would ask them to take it to a staff channel after-the-fact if the issue isn't being resolved at the time - really, though, this is for a higher-up to handle, preferably the respective staff manager. I would bring it to their attention if it hasn't been brought up to them already, and end my involvement there.
Why would you like to become a moderator? I've enjoyed CM for a significant chunk of time now, and I want to pitch in and ensure that players have fun and enjoy themselves. I believe I'm a very even-handed and fair person, and hopefully I can put that to use as part of staff (not to say that current staff fails in this respect, but I don't think an extra set of eyes could hurt. Unless there's too many cooks in the kitchen).
In your opinion, what is the most important quality for a moderator? Accountability, hands down. As much as it might surprise other players, staff members are actually human -- nobody's perfect. But I believe a core trait of being staff is being responsible enough to hold yourself accountable for the decisions made (and quite possibly the mistakes made), and holding yourself accountable for the players' enjoyment of the round. Staff has a job to do, and being accountable and ensuring that said job gets carried out is a must.
Anything else you My understanding of the current staff roster is that standards are being raised due to the increasing number of staff, and staff is skewed fairly heavily towards EST. I would point to my (relatively) soon-to-be PST status, but no matter what I respect and appreciate the decisions made by those who review this app. I simply didn't feel a need to hold off on an application due to current staff constraints - either it gets considered or it doesn't.
A quick thanks for taking the time to read all this, and staff's consideration.
Spoiler:
Originally Posted by 420M.Y.K
